Diaphragm surround

Abstract

A surround for supporting a diaphragm used to create acoustic waves includes a rib section extending away from the diaphragm and a membrane section that is supported by the rib section. The membrane section has a thickness in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the membrane section which is substantially thinner than a thickness of the rib section in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the rib section. A restoring force returning the diaphragm to a home position is contributed to more due to deformation of the rib section than to deformation of the membrane section.

1. A surround for supporting a diaphragm used to create acoustic waves, comprising:
 a rib section extending away from the diaphragm; and 
 a membrane section that is supported by the rib section, the membrane section having a thickness in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the membrane section which is substantially thinner than a thickness of the rib section in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the rib section, the top surface of the rib section being distinguishable from the top surface of the membrane section, the bottom surface of the rib section being distinguishable from the bottom surface of the membrane section, wherein a restoring force returning the diaphragm to a home position is contributed to more due to deformation of the rib section than to deformation of the membrane section, wherein the rib section comprises an elastomer, the membrane section and the diaphragm being made of materials which differ from each other. 
 
   
   
     2. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the rib section is part of a first plurality of rib sections which extend away from the diaphragm. 
   
   
     3. The surround of  claim 2 , further including a second plurality of rib sections which are offset from the first plurality of rib sections. 
   
   
     4. The surround of  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are offset radially from the first plurality of rib sections. 
   
   
     5. The surround of  claim 4 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are offset circumferentially from the first plurality of rib sections. 
   
   
     6. The surround of  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are offset circumferentially from the first plurality of rib sections. 
   
   
     7. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the rib section comprises a material having a Shore A durometer of between about 5 to about 70. 
   
   
     8. The surround of  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are joined to the first plurality of rib sections by a circumferential rib section. 
   
   
     9. The surround of  claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are connected to an attachment member. 
   
   
     10. The surround of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of rib sections are connected to the diaphragm. 
   
   
     11. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane section is between about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm thick. 
   
   
     12. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the rib section has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to about 25 mm. 
   
   
     13. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane section is flat. 
   
   
     14. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane section is curved. 
   
   
     15. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane section and rib section form part of a passive radiator. 
   
   
     16. A surround for supporting a diaphragm used to create acoustic waves, comprising:
 a membrane section; and 
 a support section supporting the membrane section, wherein the support section is substantially symmetric about an imaginary plane, the membrane section having a thickness in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the membrane section which is substantially thinner than a thickness of the support section in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the support section, the top surface of the support section being distinguishable from the top surface of the membrane section, the bottom surface of the support section being distinguishable from the bottom surface of the membrane section, wherein the membrane section comprises an elastomer, the membrane section and the diaphragm being made of materials which differ from each other. 
 
   
   
     17. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the membrane section is about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm thick. 
   
   
     18. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the support section has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to about 25 mm thick. 
   
   
     19. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the support section is secured to at least one of the diaphragm and an attachment member. 
   
   
     20. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the support section includes at least two ribs. 
   
   
     21. The surround of  claim 20 , wherein the two ribs extend in a substantially radial direction. 
   
   
     22. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the support section includes a rib that extends in a circumferential direction. 
   
   
     23. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the diaphragm is substantially planar and parallel to the imaginary plane. 
   
   
     24. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the imaginary plane bisects the membrane section. 
   
   
     25. The surround of  claim 16 , wherein the support section extends above and below the membrane section. 
   
   
     26. An acoustic system, comprising;
 a first diaphragm that creates a first group of acoustic waves when it is vibrated; and 
 a surround for supporting the first diaphragm, the surround including a rib section that extends away from the first diaphragm, the surround including first and second membrane sections that is are supported by the rib section, the membrane sections each having a thickness in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of each membrane section which is substantially thinner than a thickness of the rib section in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the rib section, wherein the top surface of the first membrane section has a substantially concave shape and the top surface of the second membrane section has a substantially convex shape, the rib section and membrane sections being made of substantially the same material, wherein the rib section comprises an elastomer, the rib section and the diaphragm being made of materials which differ from each other. 
 
   
   
     27. The acoustic system of  claim 26 , wherein the rib section is part of a first plurality of rib sections which extend in a substantially radial direction. 
   
   
     28. The acoustic system of  claim 27 , further including a second plurality of rib sections which are offset from the first plurality of rib sections. 
   
   
     29. The acoustic system of  claim 28 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are offset radially from the first plurality of rib sections. 
   
   
     30. The acoustic system of  claim 28 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are offset circumferentially from the first plurality of rib sections. 
   
   
     31. The acoustic system of  claim 26 , wherein the rib section comprises a material having a Shore A durometer of between about 5 to about 50. 
   
   
     32. The acoustic system of  claim 28 , wherein the second plurality of rib sections are joined to the first plurality of rib sections by a circumferential rib section. 
   
   
     33. The acoustic system of  claim 26 , wherein the membrane section is between about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm thick.. 
   
   
     34. The acoustic system of  claim 26 , wherein the rib section has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to about 25 mm thick. 
   
   
     35. The acoustic system of  claim 26 , further including an acoustic driver that includes a second diaphragm that is translated back and forth by an electro-magnetic motor to create a second group of acoustic waves, the second group of acoustic waves causing the first diaphragm to vibrate and create the first group of acoustic waves. 
   
   
     36. A method of creating acoustic waves, comprising the steps of:
 providing a surround that is joined to a diaphragm which is used to create acoustic waves, the surround including a membrane section and a support section connected to the membrane section, wherein the support section is dividable into two substantially symmetrical portions by an imaginary plane, the membrane section having a thickness in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the membrane section which is substantially thinner than a thickness of the support section in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the support section, the top surface of the support section being distinguishable from the top surface of the membrane section, the bottom surface of the support section being distinguishable from the bottom surface of the membrane section; and 
 causing the diaphragm to vibrate and create acoustic waves, wherein the membrane section comprises an elastomer, the membrane section and the diaphragm being made of materials which differ from each other. 
 
   
   
     37. The method of  claim 36 , wherein the membrane section is about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm thick. 
   
   
     38. The surround of  claim 36 , wherein the support section has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to about 25 mm. 
   
   
     39. The surround of  claim 36 , wherein the support section is secured to the diaphragm. 
   
   
     40. The surround of  claim 36 , wherein the support section includes at least two ribs. 
   
   
     41. The surround of  claim 40 , wherein the two ribs extend in a radial direction. 
   
   
     42. The surround of  claim 36 , wherein the support section includes a rib that extends in a circumferential direction. 
   
   
     43. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the rib section is substantially flat, the surface being substantially perpendicular to an intended direction of travel of the diaphragm. 
   
   
     44. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein the rib and membrane sections are made of substantially the same material. 
   
   
     45. The surround of  claim 1 , wherein an envelope that closely encompasses the surround will include a substantially flat surface that is normal to an intended direction of travel of the diaphragm.